Wearable and buoyant life saving apparatuses

ABSTRACT

A wearable life saving apparatus may have or include at least one inflatable raft attached to at least one tethering material for securing the inflatable raft(s) to a user&#39;s body. The tethering material may be a cord, a string, a strap, or some other mechanism allowing the wearable life saving apparatus to be worn by a user. The inflatable raft may have a compressed gas unit mounted inside, inboard, or on each inflatable raft. The compressed gas unit may have a release mechanism that is releasable exterior to the at least one inflatable buoyancy body.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of Provisional Patent Application No. 61/927,326 filed Jan. 14, 2014, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to wearable life saving apparatuses having at least one inflatable raft, and more specifically relates to at least one inflatable raft configured to be worn by a user, and a compressed gas unit mounted inside, inboard, or on the inflatable raft where the compressed gas unit has a release mechanism that is releasable exterior to the inflatable raft.

BACKGROUND

Inflatable life rafts are typically carried aboard a transportation vessel, such as a boat, ship, aircraft, and the like to be used in the event of a disaster aboard the transportation vessel. Inflatable rafts may have an inflatable main buoyancy tube adapted to constitute the sides of the raft, there being an inflatable floor for the raft secured to the main buoyancy tube. A seating accommodation of the raft may allow a user to sit or rest in the raft once it is inflated. The user may be seated with her back against the main buoyancy tube and with her feet extending towards the center of the inflatable raft floor. Inflatable seats may therefore be secured over the inflatable floor adjacent to the inner side of the main buoyancy tube.

The total weight of the deflated raft is very important when determining how the deflated raft may be carried. Inflatable life rafts are required by law to be carried on many larger commercial vessels, but this is not the case on smaller vessels. Even when the inflatable life rafts are located on the ship, the inflatable raft typically seats more than 10 users and often more than 20 users. Thus, the deflated raft is too heavy for a user to carry or wear the raft at all times. For this reason, the deflated raft is often stowed until needed in the event of an emergency. However, the deflated raft may not be readily available or readily located when needed.

It would be desirable to have inflatable life saving apparatuses that may be light enough and/or small enough to be wearable by each user.

SUMMARY

There is provided, in one form, a wearable life saving apparatus having at least one inflatable raft and a tethering material. The inflatable raft may have a compressed gas unit disposed inside, inboard, or on the inflatable raft, and the compressed gas unit may have a release mechanism configured to be exterior to the inflatable raft. The tether material may have a first end secured to the inflatable raft, and a second end configured to be securable to a user.

In an alternative embodiment, a life jacket life saving apparatus is provided having a back part, a first front part, and a second front part where the back part, the first front part, and the second front part are integrally formed with one another. The first front part and the second front part have inboard edges disposed in confronting relation to one another. The back part may include a first cavity comprising a buoyant panel and at least one inflatable raft. The inflatable raft(s) may each have a compressed gas unit having a release mechanism configured to be triggered exterior to the inflatable raft. A tether material may have a first end secured to the inflatable raft and a second end secured to the life jacket.

In an alternative, non-limiting embodiment, a backpack-style life saving apparatus is provided having a back part and at least one tether material. The tethering material(s) is integrally formed into the back part. The back part may include a first cavity comprising at least one inflatable raft. The inflatable raft may have a compressed gas unit having a release mechanism configured to be triggered exterior to the at least one inflatable raft. The tether material may have a first end secured to the inflatable raft and a second end securable to the backpack-style life saving apparatus.

The inflatable life saving apparatus may be wearable by a user, which would allow the user to have the apparatus on himself at all times and ready for use in the event of an emergency.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an illustration of a life saving apparatus configured to be wearable by a user;

FIG. 2 is an illustration of a user tethered by a tethering material to an inflated raft;

FIG. 3 is an illustration of a user wearing a backpack-style life saving apparatus;

FIG. 4 is an illustration of a user wearing a backpack-style life saving apparatus tethered to an inflated raft;

FIG. 5 is an illustration of a lifejacket life saving apparatus;

FIG. 6 is an illustration of a lifejacket life saving apparatus tethered to an inflated raft; and

FIG. 7 illustrates a non-limiting embodiment of a release mechanism attached to a compressed gas unit.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

It has been discovered that at least one inflatable raft may be configured to be worn by a user (e.g. a person or an animal) and function as a wearable life saving apparatus. Each inflatable raft may include a compressed gas unit mounted inside, inboard, or on the inflatable raft, and the compressed gas unit may have a release mechanism that is releasable exterior to the inflatable raft. Once the release mechanism is triggered, the compressed gas may be released to inflate the inflatable raft. In a non-limiting embodiment, the inflatable raft may be inflated in less than one minute, alternatively from about 2 seconds to about 30 seconds, or from about 5 seconds independently to about 10 seconds. As used herein with respect to a range, “independently” means that any lower threshold may be used together with any upper threshold to give a suitable alternative range.

In a non-limiting embodiment, the inflatable raft(s) may be wearable by attaching one end of a tethering material, such as a string, cord, strap, and the like to the inflatable raft. Alternatively, both ends of the tethering material may form a strap on the life saving apparatus, which allows the user to insert an arm, leg, midsection, head, etc through the loop to wear the inflatable raft.

The inflatable raft(s) may be attachable to at least one buoyant object, such as but not limited to a float shaped like a noodle (also known as a noodle float), a buoyant panel similar to what is found in a life jacket, a donut raft, and the like. Alternatively, the inflatable raft may be configured to be attached to or inserted into a life jacket, a backpack-style, an article of clothing (e.g. a pair of shorts, a shirt, etc), a flipper fin used for swimming, a donut raft, and combinations thereof. Donut raft' is used herein to refer to a raft that is used by lifeguards where the raft is shaped like a donut. ‘Backpack-style’ is defined herein to be at least one inflatable raft configured to lay against a user's back having at least two tethering materials attached to the inflatable raft and is not limited to a traditional backpack, although a traditional backpack may be designed to be used with the inflatable raft for wearing the raft.

By wearing the inflatable raft, the user does not have to carry the inflatable raft by hand, which allows the user's hands to be free for such things as swimming, diving, sailing, parasailing, or other activities on the water. The wearable inflatable raft also allows the user to have the inflatable raft on himself should the user be thrown into the water at a moment's notice. Overall, the wearable inflatable raft increases the safety of a user when wearing the inflatable raft.

The inflatable raft may have or include a material formed of foldable, tear-resistant material, and the inflatable raft may allow at least one person or animal to rest within the inflatable raft once the inflatable raft has been inflated. Generally, the person or animal would rest within the middle of the inflatable raft, but an inflatable raft may be designed where the person or animal rests off-center within the inflatable raft.

Of course, users come in varying shapes and sizes, so it is difficult to predict in advance how many users may fit in the inflatable raft. However, to give a general idea of shape or size that may be held by the inflatable raft, each inflatable raft may allow for one user independently to ten users to rest within the inflatable raft when inflated, alternatively from two users independently to about five users, or from one user to about two users in another non-limiting embodiment. In yet another non-limiting embodiment, the inflatable raft may only allow for a single person or animal to use, which means the inflatable raft weighs less and may be more portable than an inflatable raft capable of holding more than one user.

The compressed gas unit may be mounted inside the inflatable raft and may be reusable in a non-limiting embodiment. When mounted inside the inflatable raft, the inflatable raft may have a flap cut thereinto. The flap may be opened and closed for inserting and removing the compressed gas unit. The flap may have or include a securing mechanism, such as but not limited to a zipper, velcro, tape, string, and the like to secure the flap to the inflatable raft when it is not needed for inserting or removing the compressed gas unit.

Alternatively, the compressed gas unit may be mounted inboard or on the inflatable raft by a securing mechanism, such as but not limited to velcro, tape, glue, and the like. In a non-limiting embodiment, a pocket may be inboard or on the inflatable raft for inserting the compressed gas unit thereinto. The pocket may protect the release mechanism from being triggered too soon, as well as protect the compressed gas unit from external forces or external fluids. The securing mechanism and/or the pocket may allow a user to easily remove and/or replace the compressed gas unit from the inflatable raft when necessary.

In a non-limiting embodiment, the release mechanism may be detachable. The release mechanism may be or include, but is not limited to an unraveling mechanism, a pull grip, a pull tab, a pin, and combinations thereof. In another non-limiting embodiment, the release mechanism may have a first sensor in communication with a user device, which would allow a person to electronically inflate the inflatable raft where said person may or may not be the user. The user device may be or include a computer, cell phone, or even a button on the life jacket or backpack-style apparatus. Such electronic communication may also allow a person who is not the user to inflate the inflatable raft for the user. For example, a child or disabled person may wear the apparatus but may not be able to manually inflate the inflatable raft himself, so a second person may do so for the child or disabled person. In another non-limiting example, such electronic communication may allow a non-user to inflate the inflatable raft for a semi-conscious user who would otherwise have trouble inflating the inflatable raft.

In a non-limiting embodiment, the life saving apparatus may have a backpack-style having a back part, at least one wearable strap (but may have two or more straps in a non-limiting embodiment), and at least one tethering material where the tethering material(s) is integrally formed into the back part. A first wearable strap may be on the opposite side of the back part from a second wearable strap. The back part may have at least a first cavity having at least one inflatable raft and an optional buoyant object. The back part may (optionally) have a second cavity to include a buoyant object. In a non-limiting embodiment, the backpack-style apparatus, with or without the optional buoyant object therein, may be configured to be worn over a conventional life jacket in a non-limiting embodiment; alternatively, the back part may be configured to be attachable to a buoyant object.

The invention will be further described with respect to the following Figures, which are not meant to limit the invention and are not drawn to scale, but rather to further illustrate the various embodiments.

FIG. 1 is an illustration of a non-limiting embodiment where a deflated raft 10 may be folded or compacted to fit onto the body of a user. In an alternative non-limiting embodiment, the deflated raft 10 may be attached to a buoyant object 40, such as but not limited to a float shaped like a noodle (also known as a noodle float), a buoyant panel similar to what is found in a life jacket, a donut raft, and the like.

The deflated raft 10 and optional buoyant object 40 may become wearable by wrapping or sewing at least one tethering material 20 around or to a tetherable object (not shown), such as but not limited to a body part, an article of clothing, a life jacket, a backpack, and the like. If the deflated raft 10 is tethered to a tetherable object other than a body part, the deflated raft 10 becomes wearable because the tetherable object is wearable, i.e. the lifejacket, backpack, article of clothing, etc. In the non-limiting instance where the deflated raft 10 has at least two or more tethering materials, one may function as a tethering material to tether the deflated raft to the tetherable object, and the other tethering materials may be worn by the user. The tethering material may be attachable to the deflated raft by any means necessary, such as but not limited to a hook, a knot, glue (e.g. super glue), a magnet, and combinations thereof. In the instance the tethering material is attached to the deflated raft by a hook, a magnet, or a similar mechanism, the deflated raft may have a hooking attachment for attaching the hook of the tethering material thereto; the deflated raft may have a magnet therein for attaching o the magnet of the tethering material; and combinations thereof.

The deflated raft 10 may be worn, by itself, by tethering the tethering material 20, as described, or the deflated raft 10 may be attached to the tetherable object by sewing the deflated raft 10 into the tetherable object. Alternatively, the deflated raft 10 may have the tetherable object attached thereon by some form of adhesive, such as but not limited to Velcro, semi-permanent glue, tape, and the like. Alternatively, the deflated raft 10 may be insertable into the tetherable object depending on the size of the deflated raft 10 and/or the size of the tetherable object.

The deflated raft 10 is depicted as a contorted shape, but it may be compressed into any shape, such as but not limited to an oval, a circle, a rectangular shape, and the like. The deflated raft may include a compression unit 30 of air, which may have an optional sensor 50 attached thereto for electronically triggering the release mechanism of the compression unit from a location exterior to the deflated raft 10.

FIG. 2 is an illustration of a user 200 tethered by a tethering material 20 to an inflated raft 12. The user 200 may be a person, animal, etc. Here, the tethering material 20 is wrapped around the user's 200 shoulder, but the tethering material 20 is not limited to a particular location for tethering the user to the inflated raft 12; the tethering material 20 may be wrapped around the user 200 anywhere convenient to the user 200. ‘Tethering material’ or ‘tether material’ are used herein to mean a material that tethers the user to the life saving apparatus; in non-limiting instances, the tethering material may also trigger the release mechanism when pulling the tethering material in a direction away from the life saving apparatus.

FIG. 3 is an illustration of a user 200 wearing a backpack-style life saving apparatus 300 where the backpack-style apparatus is disposed on the user's back; the backpack-style life saving apparatus 300 is not necessarily drawn to scale. The backpack-style life saving apparatus 300 may be as large or as small as would be necessary to have a deflated raft inserted thereinto. The apparatus may have at least one opening 310 for inserting an arm or leg through the opening 310 for a user to wear the apparatus 300; alternatively, the apparatus may have at least two to four straps to allow the user 200 to wear the apparatus 300. The deflated raft 10 may be inserted into a first compartment or cavity of the apparatus 300. A first end of the tether material 20 may be tethered to the deflated raft 10, and a second end of the tether material 20 may be tethered to the apparatus 300. The apparatus 300 may be worn in any form comfortable to the user 200, such as across the user's stomach or back in a non-limiting embodiment. In a non-limiting embodiment, the first cavity (not shown) may also include an optional buoyant object 40. Alternatively, the optional buoyant object 40 may be in a separate cavity from the deflated raft 10 to allow the deflated raft to deploy from the apparatus 300, but the apparatus 300 would not lose the optional buoyant object 40. In a non-limiting embodiment, a back-pack style apparatus 300 may be worn over a life jacket (not shown).

FIG. 4 is an illustration of a user 200 wearing a backpack-style life saving apparatus 300 tethered by a tethering material 20 to an inflated raft 12. The openings 310 tether the backpack-style apparatus to the user 200, so the user 200 may not lose the raft 12 when the raft 12 begins to inflate.

FIG. 5 is an illustration of a lifejacket life saving apparatus 500 having a back part 510, a first part 520, and a second part 530 where each part 520, 530 has an opening 310 for a user (not shown) to insert an arm or leg through the opening 310. The deflated raft 10 may be inserted into a first compartment or cavity of the apparatus 500. A first end of the tether material 20 may be tethered to the deflated raft 10, and a second end of the tether material 20 may be tethered to the apparatus 500. The apparatus 500 may be worn in any form comfortable to the user, such as across the user's stomach or over the user's back in a non-limiting embodiment. In a non-limiting embodiment, the deflated raft 10 may be inserted in a first cavity separated from the buoyant object 40 within the lifejacket. Alternatively, the buoyant object 40 may be in a separate cavity from the deflated raft 10 to allow the deflated raft 10 to deploy from the apparatus 500, but the apparatus 500 would not lose the buoyant object 40.

FIG. 6 is an illustration of a lifejacket life saving apparatus 300 tethered by a tethering material 20 to an inflated raft 12. The openings 310 allow a user to insert an arm or leg and tether the apparatus 300 to the user's arm(s) and/or leg(s), so the user does not lose the raft 12 when the raft 12 begins to inflate.

FIG. 7 illustrates a non-limiting embodiment of a release mechanism 720 attached to the compressed gas unit 30. The release mechanism 720 may be a turnable cap and may protrude through an opening 710 of the deflated raft 10. The tether material 20 may be wrapped around the release mechanism 720, and a user (not shown) may pull the tether material 20 to unwind the tether material 20 from the release mechanism 720, which triggers the release mechanism 720 to release the compressed gas from the compressed gas unit 30 and inflates the deflated raft 10. The compressed gas may be any gas considered safe for exposure to humans and animals, and that will also inflate the raft. Such compressed gas(es) may be similar to those used to inflate tires, such as but not limited to compressed air, carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, and the like.

In another non-limiting embodiment (not depicted), the release mechanism 720 may be a lever or pull tab that protrudes through an opening 710 of the deflated raft 10. Alternatively, the release mechanism may be a pin (not shown) where the user pulls the tethering material 20, which releases the pin from the release mechanism and triggers the release of gas from the compressed gas unit. To trigger the release mechanism 720, a user may pull the lever, pull tab, or pin and begin the release of compressed gas from the compressed gas unit.

When a user pulls the tethering material, the inflation of the inflatable may begin shortly thereafter, which may deploy the inflatable raft from the life saving apparatus when the apparatus is a backpack-style or lifejacket life saving apparatus. Alternatively, the life saving apparatus may include a projectile mechanism to cause the inflatable raft to deploy from the life saving apparatus prior to inflating the inflatable raft. For example, a user may pull the tethering material, which may trigger the projectile mechanism and deploy the inflatable raft and then the releasable mechanism is triggered shortly therafter.

In the foregoing specification, the invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments thereof, and has been described as effective in providing life saving apparatuses. However, it will be evident that various modifications and changes can be made thereto without departing from the broader spirit or scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. Accordingly, the specification is to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense. For example, specific inflatable rafts, releasing mechanisms, units of compressed air, tetherable objects, and tether materials, falling within the claimed parameters, but not specifically identified or tried in a particular composition or method, are expected to be within the scope of this invention.

The present invention may suitably comprise, consist or consist essentially of the elements disclosed and may be practiced in the absence of an element not disclosed. For instance, the wearable life saving apparatus may consist of or consist essentially of at least one inflatable raft; a compressed gas unit disposed within the at least one inflatable raft, wherein the compressed gas unit has a release mechanism configured to be exterior to the at least one inflatable raft; and a tether line having a first end secured to the inflatable raft and a second end configured to be securable to a user.

The words “comprising” and “comprises” as used throughout the claims, are to be interpreted to mean “including but not limited to” and “includes but not limited to”, respectively. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A wearable life saving apparatus comprising: at least one inflatable raft having a compressed gas unit, wherein the compressed gas unit has a release mechanism configured to be exterior to the at least one inflatable raft; and a tethering material having a first end secured to the at least one inflatable raft and a second end configured to be securable to a user.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the release mechanism comprises an unraveling mechanism for triggering the release mechanism.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the release mechanism comprises a pull grip for releasing the release mechanism by a pulling force.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an enclosure around the at least one inflatable raft, wherein the enclosure is secured to the second end of the tether material.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each inflatable raft allows for one to two people when inflated.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one inflatable raft is configured to be attached to or inserted into a tetherable object selected from the group consisting of a life jacket, a backpack, an article of clothing, a flipper fin used for swimming, a hat, a donut raft, and combinations thereof.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the release mechanism further comprises a sensor in communication with a user apparatus.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one inflatable raft is attachable to at least one buoyant object.
 9. A life jacket life saving apparatus comprising: a back part, a first wearable front part, and a second wearable front part where the back part, the first wearable front part, and the second wearable front part are integrally formed with one another, and wherein the first wearable front part and the second wearable front part have inboard edges disposed in confronting relation to one another, wherein the back part comprises: a first cavity comprising a buoyant panel and at least one inflatable raft, wherein the at least one inflatable raft comprises a compressed gas unit having a release mechanism configured to be triggered exterior to the at least one inflatable raft; a tether material having a first end secured to the inflatable raft and a second end secured to the life jacket.
 10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the release mechanism comprises an unraveling mechanism for triggering the release mechanism.
 11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the release mechanism comprises a pull grip for releasing the release mechanism by a pulling force.
 12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein each inflatable raft allows for one to two people when inflated.
 13. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the release mechanism further comprises a sensor in communication with a user apparatus.
 14. A backpack-style life saving apparatus comprising: a back part and at least one wearable strap; wherein the at least one wearable strap is integrally formed into the back part, wherein the back part comprises: a first cavity comprising at least one inflatable raft, wherein the at least one inflatable raft comprises a compressed gas unit having a release mechanism configured to be triggered exterior to the at least one raft; and a tether material having a first end secured to the at least one inflatable raft and a second end securable to the backpack-style life saving apparatus.
 15. The backpack life saving apparatus of claim 14, wherein the back part further comprises a buoyant panel.
 16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the release mechanism comprises an unraveling mechanism for triggering the release mechanism.
 17. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the release mechanism comprises a pull grip for releasing the release mechanism by a pulling force.
 18. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the release mechanism further comprises a sensor in communication with a user apparatus. 